There are different barriers and reasons for poor activity participation rates. They include lack of awareness, experience and understanding. There are also financial, transportation and sociological factors that limit involvement in certain activities. Here are three creative ways to drastically increase involvement rates.
Community Outreach
“Community outreach begins with establishing a dedicated group of volunteers and local partners who are willing to reach out to people,” said ConBop. For instance, door-to-door campaigns are only effective when they involve recognized locals who have extensive social networks. Because volunteers typically come and go, expect and plan for a high turnover rate. Once you have established a local workforce, promote and support volunteers through basic marketing efforts. Most community outreach involves educational programs that provide information with free gifts and food. From a business perspective, increasing employee engagement is an ongoing challenge that can be managed through creating a positive subculture of empowerment and sustainability. When it comes to working with group participation, be sure to focus on increasing buy-in, trust and motivation.
Marketing Campaigns
Even if the event or activity is an internal function, there must be some level of advertising to raise awareness. From a public health standpoint, marketing campaigns often focus on showing people the benefits and consequences of healthy choices. These marketing campaigns work best when they drive people to perform a certain activity or reach a specific goal instead of just general motivational information. For example, many anti-smoking campaigns provide disturbing and startling statistics about the negative health effects of smoking. On the other hand, a business that wants to promote their product will most likely target a demographic group. To illustrate, many companies that manufacture men’s grooming products actually create commercials designed for women, who tend to be the primary purchasers of these products. Online marketing campaigns through popular websites, such Facebook and Instagram, are also excellent ways to raise awareness and drive interested parties towards calls to action.
Use an Expert
Certain activities, such as those that unveil new products or respond to PR concerns, must be handled by a professional. Having an event manager is a good idea, but an event coordinator will do. They should have established relationships with the community and business partners. They will also have the expertise required to provide strategic advice on plans and initiatives. Just a single professional will be able to oversee a group of volunteers or employees. This will provide team stability and ensure that activities occur on time and within budget. Even occasionally speaking with a consultant or industry expert will save the company’s time and money through experiential insight and advice. A skilled professional will help their clients avoid common problems that could cause the event to fail.
To wrap up, be sure to include fun and interactive activities, such as body voting and group games, as offer small prizes.
